Do people in Minneapolis talk like the people in the movie Fargo? (movies, to live in)

[Tom63376]

Having lived in New York I have a strong accent. The South have
theirs as well. So I was wondering if most people in Minneapolis
really talk like the actors in the movie Fargo or whether that was
just exaggerated for the movies..?? Just curious..?

[Kebinminn]

No, not at that level. Minnesotan's do have an accent but it's a lot more subtle than that. I did hear a few men from Wisconsin that sounded like that once.

[uptown_urbanist]

No. They don't. That accent is highly exaggerated, and while there are some people who really do talk like that, they don't tend to live in the Twin Cities. I mentioned on another recent thread (there's some debate about this on the "outsider's view..." thread) that I fully acknowledge that there is a Minnesota accent, and you do hear it in Minneapolis, but a Minneapolis/MN accent is not the same thing as what you hear in the movie Fargo. The Minneapolis accent is more neutral, with distinctive MN sounds coming out mostly in certain words. There are also some regional phrases and words that can mark a person as Minnesotan. In general you tend to hear stronger accents in smaller towns, or at least that's been my experience.

[Ghengis]

Truth is most of us long time residents are desensitized to the accent and while it may not be as over the top as in Fargo, it is definitely there. I grew up in the Mpls suburbs, my wife grew up in Northeast Mpls, and we are often asked when we travel if we are from Minnesota. Not the Midwest, or "up-north", or Canada, or Wisconsin, or even Fargo but Minnesota. She didn't believe we had it at first (after seeing the movie) but we notice everyone from the local radio personalities to the cashier at the grocery store to the interview with the "man-on-the-street" all could have been extras in that same movie. Around here, all you have to do is listen for it and you will here it many times during the day. End of story.

[Harpoon]

I lived there for quite a while and then moved away. I didn't notice the accent while I was there, but after leaving I do notice it when I go back to visit people. Generally, the urban areas in the Twin Cities aren't so bad, but when you get out in the rural areas or in the northern part of the state, the accent is more pronounced and there are people that sound exactly like the movie depicts.

[Khaalathas]

Minnesotans do tend to have Long O's and Long A's moreso then in other areas. It's not as exaggerated as in the movie unless you go way up north then youll find some that really do talk like that but generally not in the Twin Cities.

[uptown_urbanist]

I grew up in Minneapolis, and during my years elsewhere people sometimes asked me if I was from Canada. I've never had anyone pinpoint it as Minnesota based purely on accent.

[mkdude_08]

Interesting. When I play on Xbox Live people usually ask me if I'm from Canada, and my wife (who's from California) says my accent isn't that bad.

[ozzie679]

All native Minnesotans have "the accent". It varies by household.

[Jay F]

When I visited the Twin Cities I very much noticed an Upper Midwestern accent. It's not as over the top as the Fargo movie but it exists.

I like regional accents. I am somewhat surprised they still exist to this day.